The issue, Webb said, stems from whether a polling place consolidation proposal the election commission approved in March was lawful with regard to future county elections.

The Sebastian County Board of Election Commissioners submitted the request for an AG opinion through Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Shue, for clarification on the matter and to determine if the vote had to be unanimous.

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel did not invalidate the election, but ruled in the July 25 opinion that yes, each member of the three-person commission should have voted in favor of the action.

“Generally speaking, election laws are mandatory if enforcement is sought before an election but merely directory — and failure to observe them is not cause to invalidate the election — if enforcement is sought after the election,” McDaniel stated in the opinion. “The rule has been applied in cases involving failures to comply with the law regarding polling places. I have no reason to believe that the general rule would not apply to the SCBEC action at issue, the May election, and future elections.”

Webb said the request was necessary because of complaints from voters in Bloomer. The March action saw the Bloomer Baptist Church location consolidate with Union Baptist Church, an item that caused the most contention of the move.

“There were six other sites in that proposal that no one complained about, but we asked for an AG opinion on the matter to see what we have to do,” Webb said. “We are working to solidify the interpretation of the opinion and what we need to do about it to remain in compliance. I don’t know what the next step will be, but we’re going to meet and see what we have to do.”

Webb said Wednesday the election commission plans to meet again in mid- to late August, with Shue present, to discuss the issue. He said a re-vote on the issue is likely.